Athletics News - 17.03.

Nerius and Kozmus wins in Yalta

YALTA (UKR, Mar 17): Early results from European Cup of Winter Throwing (we will send a summary of the day in the evening). Expected javelin win by European Champion Steffi Nerius from Germany achieving 63.14 in fifth round. Only one next over 60 metres was Goldie Sayers from GBR (60.02). Bronze went to Italy´s Zahra Bani (58.95). Sensational win for Primoz Kozmus of Slovenia in men hammer with 77.99 (he had also 77.95 to back his position). World and European Champion Ivan Tikhon from Belarus was second (77.79) and Turkish record holder Esref Apak third (76.68). Another favourite and 80 m thrower Krisztian Pars of Hungary was fourth (75.79).

The U23 javelin was dominated by Russian Mariya Abakumova (59.42). Second placed Sinta Ozolina from Latvia is still a junior (55.03). Other U23 winners were Russians Andrey Azarenkov in Hammer (72.41) and Anna Avdeyeva in Shot Put (17.32). Local win for U23 male discus by Dmytro Isnyuk (58.23 m). Still on Saturday men´s hammer and discus and women shot are scheduled. U23 competitions are held on project basis. Record number 203 athletes from 26 countries is competing.Other news

TUCSON (USA, Mar 16): At Willie Williams Classic Slovak hammer record holder Martina Danisova got her second US win in a week, this time with 68.52 m. She missed the Slovak standard for Osaka by nearly one meter (69.50).

ATHENS (USA, Mar 16): Georgia Relays were headlined during the first day by hammer throw competition. Andras Haklits from Croatia won the men competition (73.40) and Jenny Dahlgren from Argentina the female one (65.27).

SAN ANTONIO (USA, Mar 16): Super talent Rynell Parson clocked at UTSA Relays in 100 m heats new best of 10.40. The 16 years old athlete was last year the fastest HS freshman (10.43) and recently made for headlines as he achieved hand timed and wind aided 9.99.

DURBAN (RSA, Mar 16): During first day of South African Championships as IAAF reports jumping star Khotso Mokoena achieved the best performance 816 (+2.0). Women´s long jump also brought the best female result as multiventer Janice Josephs bettered his best to 662 (-1.7). Already 12th national title was registered by African record holder Chris Harmse in hammer (74.35). Some 600 athletes from 17 provinces are competing during two days at King´s Park Stadium.

DUDINCE (SVK, Mar 17): Slovak walker Matej Toth (6th in Goteborg at 20 km) and last weekend best European at 20 km at IAAF Challenge in Mexico made today important step in his life. He married Lenka Korcokova, the sister of his walker-colleague Peter Korcok (in Goteborg 8th at 50 km). It is another wedding in Slovakia which could be described as athletics. Shot putter Milan Haborak married in the past the sister of Konopka twins Michaela. Haborak is now not only an active thrower but also coach of sensational european indoor champion Mikulas Konopka, his brother in law.

EDMONTON (CAN): National 100 m champion Nicolas Macrozonaris as per media reports is switching his base from Montreal to Edmonton. He will be now coached by Kevin Tyler and will be in the same group with 400 m record holder Tyler Christopher. Macrozonaris is of Greek origin and has a best of 10.03 from 2003. His best placing is the semifinal at Worlds 2003 in Paris.

LAGOS (NGR): Top african sprinter Olusoji Fasuba had an incident in recent days beeing hit in one gym during his training. His agent Eric Lilot confirms that he is doing well and in full preparation for the summer season. In recent media interview in Nigeria he explained why he still remains in the country, although he was thinking about switching the nationality to Italy. He is 22 years old and last year achieved african record 9.85 at 100 m. This indoor he clocked the second fastest time of the season 6.49 and won meets in Stuttgart, Dusseldorf and Paris.

PARIS (FRA): World class sprinter Christine Arron continues in good preparation for summer. As informed by french media she is now already able to train at 75%. Her comeback is not yet scheduled, but is expected to be in June. Her new coach Stephane Caristan is also satisfied with the progress.

News around CC World Champs

MOMBASA: All is beeing prepared for Monday arrival of IAAF President Lamine Diack. Not only more than 700 athletes and officials from 66 countries will arrive to first kenyan world championships ever. Also delegations from bid cities for World Championships 2011 and 2013 will be coming (Moscow, Daegu, Barcelona, Brisbane). Because the IAAF council meeting will take place after the championships and will decide about the host cities. Similar situation occured already in 2003 as during council meeting in Nairobi Helsinki was elected to stage the World Championships 2005. In total around 6000 visitors will arrive to Mombasa within next week. Help will be provided by 500 volunteers, mostly students. As The Nation writes legends like Ibrahim Hussein and John Ngugi have reportedly put in place 2200 metal barriers around the winding course to separate the fans from the athletes. Around 30 workers have been on site on this course which experts have described as the most scenic ever in the world championships, traditionally held in a hippodrome race course in wintery European conditions unlike the sunny Mombasa which is beckoning to many of them to extend their stay. Ngugi who is a living cross country legend after winning the world title for five times said the course is tough though it looks easy. UK´s best runner Mo Farah will lead the team to Mombasa as David Martin reports despite injury and ilness in recent time. GBR is the only european country to have teams in all four races there. French team was forced to cancel the participation of Frederic Denis (track best 8:20.61 at 3000SC), who had high level of hematocrite rate during his recent test.